Cultural diversity
Ancestry
About this topic
Ancestry describes a person's cultural association and ethnic background, and Census respondents can report more than one ancestry. It is a broader cultural measure than country of birth because it can reflect family heritage across generations.
This topic helps show the size and diversity of cultural groups in an area, including groups whose members were born in Australia. Because multiple ancestries can be reported, ancestry totals can exceed the total population, so it is best read with birthplace, language used at home, and religion.
Interpretation notes
- People can report up to two ancestries, so category totals represent responses rather than a single unduplicated person count.
- ABS advises that ancestry is best used with birthplace and language, because ancestry alone is a broad measure of ethnicity and cultural background.
- The 2021 form added separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mark boxes, so those categories need caution in over-time comparison.
Key insight
In 2021, the largest ancestry groups among residents in Emu Plains were Australian, English and Irish.
Section overview
Ancestry - Ranked by size
Emu Plains - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises ancestry for Emu Plains in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Penrith (C) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Ancestry - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Emu Plains, with comparison markers for Penrith (C).
Australian
2021 count
3,381
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+14.9pp
3,381
20.8%
+14.9pp
English
2021 count
3,250
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
+13.6pp
3,250
20.0%
+13.6pp
Irish
2021 count
1,116
% of total
6.9%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
1,116
6.9%
+3.3pp
Scottish
2021 count
808
% of total
5.0%
Change from 2016
+3.3pp
808
5.0%
+3.3pp
German
2021 count
305
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
+1.0pp
305
1.9%
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
2021 count
281
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
+1.6pp
281
1.7%
+1.6pp
Italian
2021 count
246
% of total
1.5%
Change from 2016
-4.2pp
246
1.5%
-4.2pp
Dutch
2021 count
176
% of total
1.1%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
176
1.1%
+0.9pp
Maltese
2021 count
153
% of total
0.9%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
153
0.9%
+0.5pp
Greek
2021 count
136
% of total
0.8%
Change from 2016
-1.9pp
136
0.8%
-1.9pp
Ancestry - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Australian
+3,048
+14.9pp
English
+2,888
+13.6pp
Irish
+912
+3.3pp
Scottish
+714
+3.3pp
German
+256
+1.0pp
Australian Aboriginal
+276
+1.6pp
Italian
-77
-4.2pp
Dutch
+164
+0.9pp
Maltese
+130
+0.5pp
Greek
-15
-1.9pp
Data table
Ancestry for Emu Plains. Ancestry - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Penrith (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | % | Penrith (C)% | Count | pp | |
| Australian | 3,381 | 20.8% | 16.6% | 333 | 5.9% | 17.9% | +3,048 | +14.9pp |
| English | 3,250 | 20.0% | 15.1% | 362 | 6.4% | 16.6% | +2,888 | +13.6pp |
| Irish | 1,116 | 6.9% | 4.1% | 204 | 3.6% | 4.9% | +912 | +3.3pp |
| Scottish | 808 | 5.0% | 3.4% | 94 | 1.7% | 3.7% | +714 | +3.3pp |
| German | 305 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 49 | 0.9% | 1.7% | +256 | +1.0pp |
| Australian Aboriginal | 281 | 1.7% | 2.3% | 5 | 0.1% | 0.3% | +276 | +1.6pp |
| Italian | 246 | 1.5% | 1.9% | 323 | 5.7% | 1.8% | -77 | -4.2pp |
| Dutch | 176 | 1.1% | 0.7% | 12 | 0.2% | 0.7% | +164 | +0.9pp |
| Maltese | 153 | 0.9% | 2.0% | 23 | 0.4% | 1.9% | +130 | +0.5pp |
| Greek | 136 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 151 | 2.7% | 0.6% | -15 | -1.9pp |
| Total | 16,273 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 5,656 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +10,617 | 0.0pp |
Excludes ancestries with fewer than 10 responses (multi-response).